My pumpkin outside my door 2017 (photo by Julie A. Smith)
Starbucks salted caramel mocha (my favorite!) (photo by Julie A. Smith)
My pumpkin in my staff work pumpkin contest (photo by Julie A. Smith)
Fun with friends last year at Curtis Orchard
The pretty barn where my friend Amber got married in October 2016 in Niantic, IL (photo by Julie A. Smith)
Photo courtesy of Starbucks.com
If you are looking for a description to make your mouth water, here it is: “We’ve paired the dynamic duo of dark cocoa and refreshing mint with milk and ice. Next we infuse the blended chocolatey beverage with cooling mint sugar crystals, cut in a layer of whipped cream, then top it with more whipped cream and a dusting of dark cocoa” (description courtesy of https://www.starbucks.com).
Since it is only at Starbucks for a limited time, if you want to try it, it may be good to get it before it is gone!!!
I recently heard that Starbucks has a NEW seasonal drink, the Chestnut Praline Latte. I was intrigued and eager to check it out.  While uncertain if I have ever had pralines before (yeah, maybe I have led a sheltered life), but I was game to give it a try. Call me a fan of Starbucks, which would be a true understatement. So, I got a Chestnut Praline Latte on my drive back home from visiting my family for Thanksgiving.
It seemed appropriate to pair the latte with a cd from one of my favorite bands, Starfield, a Canadian praise and worship band with a slight rock edge, who is not very well known in the United States. A quick side note: I once road-tripped to support Starfield years ago when they were nominated for rock/contemporary album of the year at the Dove (GMA) Awards for Christian artists. I did a lot of music promotion “back in the day,” and I was always going to concerts and volunteering at promotional tables for Christian radio in multiple cities. I’m kind of surprised Starfield still flies under the radar today, but sometimes that can be kind of cool to me. I am definitely not one who is into things because other people are; while sometimes I can be influenced,  I think it’s important to follow your own drumbeat, too. But, since I am going on a tangent, I’ll get back to my story.
So, I sipped my Chestnut Praline Latte and listened to songs like “Everything is Beautiful” (which is an AMAZING song to listen to when you are feeling down), and “Love is the Reversal”, which I can listen to on repeat and never get sick of it. I pondered deep thoughts with songs lyrics like “Yeah I believe our secret longings Tell us that we’re not at home. But grace reclaims what the world disowns” and “Yeah, nothing here’s as good as it should be ‘Cause this is the rehearsal” (song “Love is the reversal” on “Beauty in the Broken” cd by Starfield, copyright 2006). While I must say that the Chestnut Praline Latte is not one of my favorite Starbucks drink, it is worth checking out at least once. As their seasonal drinks typically go, you can only get them for a very limited time, so check it out before it’s gone. And, if you couldn’t already pick up my extremely subtle plug for the band Starfield, you may want to check them out if you are looking for a new band. Some of their older cds are harder to find in Christian bookstores, but you can find them on Spotify and see what you think. You can also check out some more info on them on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfield_(band)). I highly recommend their debut album “Starfield” (with has probably their best known song, “Filled With Your Glory”) that came out in 2004, as well as the more slight rock edged “Beauty in the Broken” from 2006.
***For those who are curious what is in Starbucks new Chestnut Praline Latte, here is that info courtesy of http://www.starbucks.com: “Espresso, steamed milk, and flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices. Topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs.”
julieannesmith 